Friday Freebies: Celebrate Latino culture

It's going to be a great weekend to go outdoors and have fun with the family. Try some new cuisine, experience Latino culture or take a hayride at a local pumpking patch. Check out my blog every Friday for my recommendations of free things to do in the Dallas/Fort Worth area!

It's going to be a great weekend to go outdoors and have fun with the family. Try some new cuisine, experience Latino culture or take a hayride at a local pumpking patch.

Check out my blog every Friday for my recommendations of free things to do in the Dallas/Fort Worth area! To submit your own Friday Freebie, add a comment to this blog or send your submissions at least two weeks before the date of the event to moms@mom2momdfw.com with the subject line: "Friday Freebies."

Here are my picks this week:

Explore the world

Star-Telegram ArchivesMid-Cities Greek Fest:Eat up on great food at this lively tradition. There's a large children's play area and don't forget the music and dancing. Good to know: Parking is also free.Recommended ages: AllWhen: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, October 8; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, October 9; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, October 10Where: St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 303 Cullum Drive, Euless, TX 76040Info: 817-283-2291 , http://www.midcitiesgreekfest.info/Cost: FREE!

Armenia Fest: Experience the Armenian culture with food, folk dances, outdoor games and activities. Stroll through the booths to view handcrafts and exhibits on Armenian history. You can even learn about the unique Armenian alphabet that was invented in 404 A.D. and used in the earliest translations of the Bible.Good to know: Parking is also free.Recommended ages: AllWhen: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, October 8; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, October 9; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, October 10Where: 1805 Random Road, Carrollton, Texas 75006Info: (972) 245-6995, http://www.armeniafest.com/Cost: FREE!

Santa Fe Days on the Square: Browse through a wide array of Native American jewelry, pottery, and other art for sale. Entertainment includes songs by Bear Claw and dancing by Evelio Flores and the Aztec Dancers.Recommended ages: All Where:Old Downtown Carrollton, I-35E at the Belt Line Road Exit #443B, Carrollton, Texas 75110When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, October 8; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, October 9Info: 972-242-6453, http://www.santafedays.com/Cost: FREE!

Celebrate Latino culture

Star-Telegram/Rodger Mallison10-10-10, Celebración de los Mayas: Celebrate the rich culture of the ancient Maya with music, dance, face painting and Maya-inspired art activities. You'll see more than 90 works of Maya art, many of which have never been displayed in the United States. There will also film programs and storytelling. Good to know: Get a preview of the entertainment at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel lobby, 1300 Houston Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 8. You'll see Coro Yidzat il Kay, a rare group of Maya-descended opera singers, ranging in age from 8 to 18, from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico; and Grupo Pakal, a Fort Worth-based troupe that performs ancient Maya ceremonial dances in elaborate and authentic Maya attire.Recommended ages: AllWhen: Noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, October 10 Where: Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76107-2792Info: 817-332-8451, ext. 297, http://www.kimbellart.org/maya (available in English and Spanish)Cost: FREE!

Musicarte: The fiesta in Sundance Square will feature six blocks of music, dance, art and food. Be sure to stop by the Fiesta Kid’s Zone, an interactive playground featuring arts, crafts and games, open noon to dusk. Good to know: A complete list of parking is at http://www.fortworthparking.com.Recommended ages: AllWhen: Noon to 10:30 p.m., Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9 Where: Sundance Square, Main Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102Info:http://www.musicartefw.com/Cost: FREE!Fiesta Latinoamericana: It's the 200th anniversary of Latin America's independence so why not celebrate! The kids can enjoy children's craft workshops, cultural games and prizes and a tortilleria workshop. There will also be workshops by the Latino Culinary Institute, dance pavilion workshops and a performance by the Afro Latino Drum Circle. Good to know: Don't miss the parade of nations. Recommended ages: AllWhen: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, October 10Where: 2301 Flora Street in the Dallas Arts District, Dallas, TX 75201Info:http://www.dfwinternational.org/FiestaLatinoamericana/Cost: FREE!

Pumpkins on the Prairie: Enjoy the cooler temperatures of Fall and head to this fun pumpkin patch. Your children can play in the bounce house, run through the hay maze and play games in a Kid's Patch. Good to know: Pick out and purchase a pumpkin. All proceeds will benefit Grace Avenue Missions, Ministries and AssistanceRecommended ages: AllWhen: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday-Friday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; Noon to 8 p.m., Sunday. NOTE: The pumpkin patch will open at 9 a.m. Monday, October 11 due to school holiday. Through October 30. Where: Grace Avenue United Methodist Church, 3521 Main Street, Frisco,Texas, 75034 Info: 972-335-2882, http://www.pumpkinsontheprairie.org/Cost: Parking, admission and games are FREE!

Rockwall Pumpkin Patch: About 125,000 pounds of pumpkins will be available for the pickin' and this patch stocks the traditional orange pumpkins as well as novelty pumpkins and gourds. Daily activities for the kids include a special photo area, Story Time Theatre near Oscar the Scarecrow, a hay maze and pumpkin carving. On Saturdays, there's Pumpkin Patch Playtime, which includes storytime, craft projects, face painting and special entertainment.Good to know: Pumpkins are delivered from New Mexico and California where ideal conditions produce large colorful pumpkins. Recommended ages: AllWhen: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily. Through October 30.Where: 1201 Ridge Road, Rockwall, TX 75087Info:http://www.rockwallpumpkinpatch.com/Cost: FREE!